Now That You Ask

What if growing older isn't something to fear, but something to honor? As I approach my 80th birthday, I reflect on how a lifetime of joy, heartbreak, resilience, and self-discovery can shape a kind of beauty that only time can reveal. In this episode, I explore what it means to embrace every part of myself, from the confident to the uncertain, the graceful to the wonderfully imperfect. Beauty...

When life feels like it's happening all at once, how do you stay grounded? In this episode, I reflect on navigating the joyful chaos of publishing my memoir, buying my first home at nearly eighty, and learning that asking for help is often the greatest strength of all. Inspired by a beautiful quote from Alexander Chee, I explore what it means to trust the process, surrender control, and believ...

What if the secret to a richer, happier life is hidden in the smallest moments? In this episode of  Now That You Ask , I reflect on the unexpected power of laughter, connection, and everyday encounters that brighten even the most ordinary days. From playful exchanges at the local shipping store to surprising moments of kindness from strangers, I explore how humor has become one of my favorite ways...

What if growing older is not about losing beauty, but learning how to carry it in an entirely new way? My understanding of beauty has shifted with time. From the elegance of women I have admired to the laughter lines I now wear with gratitude, I now consider whether true beauty is found less in appearance and more in joy, wisdom, presence, and the stories we carry. As I navigate the surprises of g...

What if the thing that brings you the most joy is also the thing that asks the most of you? In this episode of  Now That You Ask , I share the remarkable journey of transforming a lifetime of stories into my memoir,  Unbecoming Behavior: A Southern Memoir of Adventurous Choices . What began as a simple suggestion from a friend became an unexpected exploration of memory, courage, heartbreak, resili...

In this episode of  Now That You Ask , I take a heartfelt and humorous journey back through the wisdom of Southern women, the kind who can teach you how to pick the perfect tomato while quietly handing you a lesson about life. From learning that “you don’t get to complain about what you’re allowing” to realizing how often I try to fix people who never asked for my help, this episode explores the t...

In this episode of  Now That You Ask , I reflect on the moments in life when logic says no, fear says stop, and yet something deep inside keeps whispering, “Give it a try.” I share the winding path that led me from a childhood filled with rules and caution into a life shaped by curiosity, risk, reinvention, and unexpected joy. From questionable fashion experiments and life-changing moves to Califo...

In this episode of  Now That You Ask , I wrestle with one of the hardest truths to accept: knowing when to step back from someone else’s life, even when I believe they are headed in the wrong direction. I reflect on my lifelong urge to help, fix, advise, and sometimes meddle, especially when I can clearly see consequences unfolding before another person can. Along the way, I explore how much of th...

For years, the quote “Wherever you are is the entry point” has followed me through my life, appearing at the exact moments when I most needed to hear it. In this episode, I reflect on the winding road of becoming who I truly am. What began in my thirties as a hopeful spiritual search slowly turned into something far less polished and far more real. Along the way there were wrong turns, heartbreak,...

I recently came across the idea that we are both a masterpiece and a work in progress at the very same time, and something inside me softened when I heard it. In this episode, I reflect on the lifelong effort of trying to become a better person while slowly learning to recognize how far I’ve already come. It is easy for me to focus on the flaws, the old habits, and the moments when I fall short. I...

I’ve always been drawn to beauty - the kind that stops me in my tracks - whether it’s in nature, art, or a fleeting moment of connection. But in this episode, I turn that lens inward and ask a more difficult question: why has it been so hard for me to see that same beauty in myself? As I reflect on self-acceptance, compliments I’ve brushed aside, and a surprising moment of confidence at a recent g...

I’ve been thinking a lot about what it really means to “get used to what I didn’t expect, ”especially now, when the unexpected seems to show up daily in the smallest and most persistent ways. In this episode, I reflect on everything from fading multitasking skills to ever-changing technology, and the strange new reality of talking to AI instead of a human being. Some of it works beautifully. Some...

I’ve come to realize that being an introvert doesn’t always look the way people expect. From the outside, I can seem fully engaged and chatting, laughing, showing up with energy, but what most people don’t see is the quiet retreat that follows. In this episode, I reflect on my need to step back, to be alone, and to recharge in order to return to the world as my best self. As I explore the push and...

This week, I found myself sitting at the edge of life ... twice. Now, I reflect on what it means to bear witness to the final moments of someone’s life, and the quiet, sacred privilege of simply being present. As I sat with a friend and later stood gently alongside a neighbor keeping vigil for her daughter, I began to understand that sometimes the most meaningful thing we can do is not to fix or s...

For much of my life, I didn’t realize how often I was measuring myself against everyone else ... how I looked, how I showed up, how well I seemed to fit in. In this episode, I reflect on my long relationship with comparison and the quiet, powerful shift that happened when I finally let it go. From the clothes I wear to the way I move through my days, I’m learning to honor my own pace, my own needs...

When I’m unsure of what to do next, I’ve learned to ask for a sign and trust that something, somehow, will appear. In this episode, I follow a string of unexpected signs that showed up in the most unlikely places. Some made me laugh, some made me pause, and all of them nudged me to pay a little closer attention. As I reflect on these moments, I begin to see that signs don’t always arrive with clar...

Lately, I’ve been catching myself in a habit I don’t much like: quietly judging other people for the smallest things. A driver weaving through traffic, someone moving too slowly, a forgotten water bottle at the gym… and then, much to my surprise, I find myself doing the very same things. In this episode, I sit with that uncomfortable realization and what it reveals about the gap between who I thin...

As I look back over the many turns my life has taken - the careers, moves, relationships, and the quiet inner thread that seemed to guide them all - I begin to see how much of my journey has been shaped by listening to that voice inside. I think about the different ways people choose to live: some rooted in one place with lifelong connections, others pulled outward by curiosity and change. Both, i...

I’ve always believed that humor lives very close to the fire of truth. In this episode, I reflect on my lifelong love of laughter. From comedians who challenge my thinking to the small, spontaneous jokes I slip into everyday conversation, humor has often been my way of easing tension, softening embarrassment, and making peace with the many little missteps that come with being human… and with getti...

What does it mean to say  your life is your spiritual practice ? In this episode, I wrestle with that question and what it asks of me in the ordinary moments - in traffic jams, sharp words, small kindnesses, and the quiet effort to be a little more patient than I was yesterday. I reflect on the gap between the person I am and the person I hope to become, discovering that spirituality may have less...

When I stumbled across a list of funny sayings my sister sent me 23 years ago, I didn’t expect to find a small treasury of perspective tucked inside an old file folder. In this episode, I revisit those wry one-liners about weight, wrinkles, wisdom, and time and discover how much more they mean to me now. What once felt clever now feels earned. As I reflect on midlife changes, the strange speed of...

Lately, I’ve noticed something unsettling: I can no longer do two things at once. Where multitasking once felt effortless, now even a simple conversation while writing a check can bring everything to a halt. In this episode, I reflect on the small, strange lapses, miswritten appointments, mysterious Post-it notes, numbers that rearrange themselves, and what they reveal about growing older. Is this...

What happens when your deepest need for clarity collides with a life full of unanswered questions? In this episode, I explore my personal relationship with ambiguity and how my intolerance for uncertainty shapes my desire for control, complicates decision-making, and heightens my reactions to surprise. Listen in I reflect on how words become my lifeline in the gray areas, helping me name discomfor...

In the midst of uncertainty, we often find ourselves standing at a crossroads, unsure of which way to turn. Life's unpredictability requires us to let go of past learnings and embrace new paths with humility and openness. Reflecting on this, I realize that the journey is not merely about moving forward but also about taking the time to pause and assess my true feelings and desires. While the w...

As I reflect on 2025, I am reminded of the moments that have irreversibly changed my heart. I've had to say goodbye to my beloved cat Sid and his sister, Nancy, both of whom have accompanied me so loyally through life's ups and downs. Looking back, it feels as though 2025 was a year of significant shedding, akin to the symbolic Year of the Snake, where things holding me back were stripped...